The Australians who sounded the climate alarm 55 years ago: 'I'm surprised others didn't take it as seriously'

Australia will join other countries at Cop29 to discuss the escalating climate crisis, but some political and scientific leaders have been talking about it for decadesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHalf a century ago, Richard Gun stood on the floor of parliament and became the first known Australian political figure to warn about the "sinister" threat posed by climate change. Todayhis maiden speech is a distant memory."I never thought of myself as the first politician to issue a warning about climate change," he says. "At the time it seemed to me an existential threat to our civilisation and it seemed like a sufficiently important issue to mention. Continue reading...